Materials / Compare
Aluminum ADC12 vs. FDM HIPS
Compare Aluminum ADC12 vs. FDM HIPS strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 149MPasourceone test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 345MPasourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 18.4MPasourcetypical |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 31.8MPasourcetypical |
| Elongation at break | 2.3%sourceone test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki) | 1.4%sourcetypical |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 79.8GPasourcestandard value (S.S.Aluminum) | 1.59GPasourcetypical |
| Density | 2,680kg/m³sourcemeasured (Daiki) | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 55.6kN·m/kg3.09x higher | 18kN·m/kg |
| Stiffness to weight | 29.8MN·m/kg19.2x higher | 1.55MN·m/kg |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | not sourced |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | not sourced |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | not sourced |
| Speed of sound | 5,457m/s | 1,246m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 125W/m·Ksourcemeasured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki) | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| Thermal expansion | 21µm/m·Ksourcemeasured, temperature range not stated (Daiki) | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 105µm growth3.81x less | 400µm growth |
| Specific heat | 911J/kg·Ksourcemeasured (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 51.2mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | not sourced |
| Melting point | 515–582°Csourcesolidus-liquidus (Daiki) | not sourced |
| Glass transition | not sourced | 99°Csourcetypical |
| Max service temperature | not sourced | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa |
| Values for | JIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values. | BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM. |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is Aluminum ADC12 stronger than FDM HIPS?
Aluminum ADC12 is stronger: its yield strength is 149 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (8.1x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or FDM HIPS?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or FDM HIPS?
Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or FDM HIPS?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum ADC12 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
| Part that must be | Aluminum ADC12 | FDM HIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | lighter | 19.2x heavier |
| Stiff beam (bending) | lighter | 2.71x heavier |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 41% heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | lighter | 3.09x heavier |
| Strong beam | lighter | 1.54x heavier |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 9% heavier |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum ADC12 or FDM HIPS?
Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Aluminum ADC12 expands less: 21 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.